From remote startups to larger companies, corporate retreats and team offsites are becoming increasingly popular as companies recognize the importance of team-building and employee engagement in driving business success. By taking a break from the usual routine, company retreats can invigorate teams, foster collaboration across departments, and strengthen internal relationships.
When employees are taken out of their normal work environment and placed in a new setting, it can help break down barriers and encourage open communication. This can lead to increased trust and understanding among team members, which in turn can lead to better collaboration and teamwork. Corporate retreats can enhance team compatibility, promote camaraderie, improve communication, and increase productivity.
When planning your next corporate retreat or team offsite, it's important to carefully consider how to encourage and support your team to achieve your company goals. We recommend a range of activities that cater to everyone's preferences and comfort levels, from active and outdoorsy to more laid-back options. The ultimate goal is to host fun games that foster teamwork and a collaborative spirit for everyone. It's also important to remember to leave enough downtime for your team to simply have fun and relax.
Scroll down for some recommendations of team-building activities and offsite ideas to empower and inspire your team.
Engaging in outdoor activities is an ideal way to disconnect from technology and busy schedules, while taking in the beautiful scenery as a team. When planning a corporate retreat, consider the location and explore various outdoor activities. For instance, you could opt for water sports like kayaking or rent a boat to explore the sea with your team for half a day. Sailing is another fantastic activity that lets you enjoy the outdoors while bonding with your team. If your team is up for some physical activity and enjoys nature, then hiking is another excellent choice.
For a corporate retreat in the city, consider planning scavenger hunts that take in the city's artwork, allowing you to break your team into subgroups to find hidden gems. This activity is a fun way to explore and learn about the city's culture while promoting teamwork and collaboration among your team members. Alternatively, bike tours are a perfect way for cycling enthusiasts to explore their surroundings together.
Including a tour is a popular choice for corporate retreats, as it allows the team to share unique experiences. Bike tours and walking tours are excellent options for exploring a new city while also getting some exercise. Such activities provide opportunities for team members to discuss various topics, both professional and personal, thereby fostering team bonding.
In some locations, wine tours or brewery tours can be popular, although some team members may choose to abstain from alcohol. Ultimately, any shared experience that is unique can serve as a much-needed break from work-centric activities during the corporate retreat. Additionally, such experiences offer an opportunity for team members to create lasting memories together, making them an excellent addition to your corporate offsite agenda.
Incorporating some friendly competitions is an enjoyable way to spice up your corporate retreat. Winning is undoubtedly thrilling, but it's not everything. The journey and camaraderie fostered during the competitions are equally important, making them an excellent way to promote team-building.
There are several competitions that you can organize, including a go-karting challenge, a golf or ping-pong tournament, or a hackathon. These activities enable your team members to demonstrate their competitive skills in a friendly environment while having fun.
Moreover, team sports like football, baseball, or beach volleyball can also be fantastic team-building exercises while having fun. Game night is another great option, and board games like Monopoly or Scrabble are timeless classics that promote bonding and nostalgia among team members. Scavenger hunts are another fun way to encourage teamwork and competition in an outdoor setting. It's a great opportunity for team members to get to know each other while working together to find hidden treasures. Don't forget to offer prizes to motivate and stoke the competitive fires!
To promote collaboration and communication among team members, consider incorporating problem-solving games or group challenges into your company offsite agenda. These activities require teamwork and foster a sense of shared accomplishment, thereby promoting a more cohesive team. It's important to create an environment that encourages open communication and values the opinions of all team members.
Escape rooms and treasure hunts are both popular team-building activities that you can incorporate into your offsite event. Escape rooms offer a chance for team members to work together to solve a problem outside of the workplace, while treasure hunts are a light-hearted way to get your team to problem-solve together. You can choose to leave clues around the venue or use a digital app. Make sure to group people up with new faces to tackle the challenge and promote new connections within your team.
One of the simplest and most effective ways to foster team bonding during a corporate retreat is through shared meals. It doesn't require much planning or coordination, as everyone needs to eat. Eating together provides an intimate setting for colleagues to discuss and appreciate each other's cultural and ethnic backgrounds, culinary preferences, and eating habits.
Sharing meals provides opportunities for your team members to connect on a personal level and build lasting relationships. While you should also allow some free time for team members to have meals on their own, it's essential to schedule group meals during the retreat.
Team workouts can be a great way to promote both physical and mental well-being, as well as foster interpersonal connections. For instance, a morning yoga class can be a perfect activity to kickstart your day. Participating in group fitness classes has been shown to enhance motivation and energy levels, and establishing a regular routine can encourage your team members to maintain their self-care practices even after the retreat is over.
With a morning workout under your belt, your team will be energized and ready to tackle the day ahead during your corporate retreat.
From painting and sculpting to pottery-making and jewellery design, creating art together can be a fun and memorable team-building activity. Art-making allows for a relaxed, therapeutic environment where individuals can express themselves freely while engaging in casual conversations with their peers.
There are a variety of creative options beyond traditional painting and sketching, such as ceramics, sculpture, and splash art. To ensure a seamless experience, be sure to order the necessary materials in advance. Art-making is a cost-effective way to boost creativity, promote relaxation, and complement a busy corporate retreat agenda.
Participating in a cooking class can be a wonderful way to learn about local culture and create unforgettable experiences with your team. Working together in the kitchen provides plenty of opportunities for collaboration, making it an ideal activity for breaking down departmental barriers.
For optimal results, encourage employees to work in groups with colleagues they don't normally interact with and appoint a panel of judges to select the tastiest dish. This will not only help build camaraderie and team spirit, but also add a dash of healthy competition to your corporate retreat.
Consider including activities and workshops that prioritize personal development and wellbeing in your corporate retreat planning. These can help attract and retain employees who are seeking a more fulfilling work experience beyond just a job. Understanding the needs and desires of the upcoming workforce, which will largely be made up of Millennials and Generation Z by 2030, is crucial for improving employee engagement and motivation. These younger generations are more likely to value purpose and meaning in their work, making it important to provide employee engagement programs that align with their values and goals.
Corporate retreats can be an effective way to incentivize purpose-driven employees, offering opportunities for personal growth and development that can be highly appealing. Soft skills classes, mindfulness workshops, and yoga sessions are just a few examples of activities that can improve employees' professional and personal lives, increasing their sense of purpose and connection to their work.
At corporate retreats, it's important to keep in mind that not everyone will know each other. For remote teams who are coming together for the first time, icebreaker games are especially important. To break the ice and encourage informal conversations, consider incorporating casual icebreaker games into your schedule. These activities can help spark unexpected friendships and improve team bonding.
Even if you don't leave the conference room, these are quick activities you can do with a group of people that won't disrupt the workday. Icebreaker games can feel awkward, but with a little planning, you can turn them into fun activities that encourage everyone to step outside of their comfort zone.
For example, you can organize a Five Minutes of Fame activity where one person ends the meeting with a short presentation about their life outside of work. This can help team members learn more about each other and find common interests. Another idea is to play Two Truths and a Lie, where each team member writes down their name and three facts (two true, one false) on a post-it note and swaps it with someone they don't know. The pairs can then discuss their facts and guess which one is the lie. This activity can be done in front of the entire group or just between the pairs, depending on the team's size.
Even though any offsite activity should include work-related content, it's equally important to give your team some time to relax. As we've previously mentioned, a crucial aspect of any corporate retreat is having a special event to acknowledge and celebrate successes.
Therefore, it's essential to include some free time in the itinerary for showing appreciation. Arrange for delicious food and drinks, play some upbeat music, and encourage your employees to let loose and have fun on the dance floor.
If you're planning a corporate retreat during the summer, the heat can make it tempting to cool off with a beach trip. A day spent on the beach can be a refreshing break from strategic planning sessions. You and your team can soak up the sun, take a dip in the ocean, and engage in beach sports like volleyball or handball. It's a fun way to unwind and enjoy some leisure time.
Organizing a team-building retreat is a great way to demonstrate your appreciation for your employees' contributions. Such a retreat can break their routine and take them out of the office, leading to
improved engagement, morale, and productivity.
However, planning a team-building retreat can be a challenging task, as there are many things to consider, such as the transportation, agenda, and accommodation. For helpful tips on how to plan your next retreat, check out
this article.
Fortunately, there are companies like
Grow Retreats that can do all the hard work for you. With years of experience in sourcing incredible locations and organizing fun team-building activities, working with a retreat organizer like Grow Retreats can save you valuable time and money. Not only are our retreats cost-effective and impactful, but you can relax and let us take care of everything, so you and your team can focus on what you do best. If you’d like support planning your next company retreat, don’t hesitate to
contact us.
